I have been a tote bag girl all my life. When I got to college I seriously considered switching over to a backpack but I just couldn’t do it. I kept having flashbacks to 21 Jump Street when Channing Tatum told Jonah Hill that he had to “One strap it. Seriously I’d have no strap if that would even be possible.” And Channing was cool in high school so that had to be right, right? I feel like if Channing could pull off a tote he totally would have. Here in the Forest people use all different types of book bags – unless you’re an athlete in which case you get that cool one for free so we can all know that you play a sport. So I perused the halls of our school to find out what other people liked to lug all their books around.
Either option comes in all different shapes, styles, and colors, and many can be personalized (if you’re a southern girl – even monogrammed).
Backpacks are a good option because they reduce your chance of having back problems due to the excessive amount of books professors expect us to carry. They also have more compartments so you can stay more organized. They even tend to be more durable: waterproof, stain resistant, all that good stuff. You can find them basically anywhere but Wake students tend to lean toward the classic North Face ones – but in all different colors.
Unlike backpacks, totes are usually only carried by collegiettes. Girls here have everything from Longchamps to Louis Vuitton. These sorts of bags tend to be more expensive than your classic backpack, and they usually fit fewer books, too. Unfortunately, the straps are bound to break depending on how much stuff you try to cram in it. Tote bags do make more of a fashion statement – they let you demonstrate the most recent trends and your knowledge of brand names.
At the end of the day it all comes down to what your preference is. Backpacks are just an accessory so pick one that matches your style and clothes and of course one that will fit your books…